Today's date is April.17.2002. Although most of what is predicted in the Near Future of this section has not come to pass, I'll forecast that which I see happening far beyond those events now.

After the Great Recession\Depression in the Asian regions, we are going to see a surge of defensive trade co-operation and subsequent strong production between the Oriental countries. One cultural trait that becomes glaringly apparent when travelling through the region, is the people's striking energy and work ethic, the willingness to sacrific the hardships of the present to grow something, anything, for the future.

That part of the world has had more than their fair share of foreign exploit, crazy Tin Pot dictators, imported oppressive government systems and civil wars. All the while, business has learned valuable lessons of commerce and trade from the West.

We hear quite a bit about the debts the governments and large corporations are holding in the region. What most people don't know is that household or personal debt is almost non-existent! In fact, it is with pride that an Oriental would say, "I own very little or nothing, but I owe no one." Compare that attitude to the West, where to governments, corporations and individuals consumption on credit and a high 'line of credit' to purchase more, is a goal of value! Gold card, anyone?

Now the staggering prediction. The Asian region will eventually overtake and surpass the wealth and economic power of the entire non-Oriental world....combined!.

Did you know that the Japanese use the term 'barbarian' in every day language when speaking of non-Orientals? Did you know that the Chinese use the description 'ghost man or woman' for non-Orientals in their common language? Did you know every other Oriental country has a similar derogatory term for non-Orientals in their every day vocabulary? It's true.

Which leads me up to where I'm going with this. The Race Card. The Asian countries, after some extreme economic and social hardships, including wars, famine and government purges, will eventually use a racially based 'them against us' type of campaign to co-operate together to flourish and prosper.

And flourish and prosper they will! The tables will be turned. The acceptance of reasonable household debt to obtain some luxuries will eventually come in vogue in Asia. Rather than relying on foreign countries, especially America to buy their products, they will become the importers in volume. Except at substantially reduced prices.

While the Middle East suffers as the world weans itself off oil due to new energy, transportation and material breakthroughs. While the Western governments, corporations and households pay the piper for their twenty year easy credit induced spending folly, the Asian regions strong work ethic, hungery for modernization billions population will boom!

Of course, like all places that start out as a freely elected democracy, eventually the people realize they can vote themselves un-sustainable largess from the public purse in pensions, social programs and benefits. But with prudence, that won't collapse their economies for a very long time.